For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Imagine, if you will, that the year is 1912. BC. Before Christ. It is many years after the flood, and Noah’s family has repopulated the earth. Everyone you know is a relative, but like today, not all the relatives get along.
Tribes have separated and arguments break out. Already some people have turned their backs to God. There is a shortage of manpower and it is not unheard of that one tribe will raid another. Children and women are taken and used as slaves. If the men cannot be subdued, they are killed. Life is hot, difficult, and harsh.
It is mid-morning and you are tending your uncle’s sheep. You are keeping watch for natural predators. The work is hard, but you are good at your job. You haven’t lost one sheep since the last full moon. Sitting on a rock overlooking the hillside where the sheep are grazing, all seems calm. A twig or stick snaps behind you and your left-hand grips your staff as your head swings to the right. Too late you see that you have been taken by surprise. Within minutes you are bound with a chain and ropes. The sheep are startled and some escape, but most are herded up and taken with you.
Another full moon has come and gone and your new home is not as pleasant as your old. Kept as a slave you work all day cutting wood and hauling water. The work is hard and the food is horrible. Your prospects for any kind of a future have evaporated. Nights are dimming memories of the family you can no longer see. Sadness has become your constant companion.
Morning comes like all the others in this strange place. The overseer barks at you to get up and move. There is work to be done. Another day of wearisome work. Your labor is given to another for nothing in return but a few scraps of food and dirty water. Like the snap of a twig so many days ago, you hear another sound. It is your uncle’s voice. You are being called, he says you are free.
On the long walk across the wilderness to return home there are many opportunities to talk. Your uncle is concerned for your health. How were you treated? You, in turn, are curious about your release. How did that come about?
Your uncle describes how he discovered where you were. He tells of the long journey to find you. He and the men with him bartered for your return. Your uncle paid for your release with the work of his hands. The expense was tremendous.
“How can I pay you back?” you ask.
“You can’t,” is the answer.
How do you feel when someone does something for you that you cannot do yourself?
Peter reminds us that our freedom from exile was purchased at a greater price than we could ever repay.
Application: List out all the things you have that are worth something to God and then estimate their value in eternal terms. What do you have to give God in exchange for the gift of life he has given you?
Food for Thought: Why does Peter refer to silver and gold as ”perishable?”
Silver and gold are perishable. Everything on earth will be melted in the heat of fire before the New Heaven and Earth.
Peter mentions this in his second book. 2 Peter 3: 10 – 13: But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away but His words will never pass away (Matthew 24: 35). Isaiah said something similar (Isaiah 34: 4).
As Peter said, since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought we to be? We ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God.
Rich,
Thank you! What a beautiful answer to this question. It is humbling to know that everything around us that looks so substantial is, in fact, mere illusion, and that which is beyond our touch is actually substantial.
Years ago I began making a lot of money. It all went to my head and I turned away from God, into the world. I lost my company, my wife left my 14 year old daughter and I. We lost our home the two of us ended up with the best old car I could afford, and for two years I became a handy man, and I watched my faith in the Lord grow again as He made sure we did not miss a meal and always had a roof over our heads. I won a court case regarding my company and life began improving for my daughter and we lived quietly, within our means in a modest home. Another 5 years passed and I was made an offer for my company. I took it, but realized it was far too much. I paid the taxes on the full amount, then gave a third away.
The Lord had changed my heart and money, things of this world are just not that important anymore.
I don’t recommend taking the path I took, and offer up these verses which have value which will never perish.
“The value of God’s word”
Psalm 12:6, Psalm 19:7-10, Psalm 119:72
“The riches of wisdom”
Proverbs 8:10-11, Proverbs 2:1-4, Ephesians 3:8; Colossians 2:3
“The riches of the poor man”
Acts 3:3-6, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Acts 20:33, Philippians 3:8,10
“The folly of worldly riches”
Ecclesiastes 5:10, Ecclesiastes 5:15
“How does God see silver and gold?”
Matthew 24:35, 1 John 2:17, 1 Peter 1:7, 1:18, 2 Peter 3:12, James 5:3,
“Eternal gold and silver”
John 1:12, John 12:48, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Col. 3:24-25
Brother Ron,
I am often struck by how much I am blessed by this blog. Not only do I have the honor of sharing my meditations on Scripture with you and others, but I have the greater honor of reading the comments left here.
I am always encouraged by what I read. It is a powerful testimony to see others wrestle with God’s Word just as I do. Every once in awhile a personal story is shared and that is like the frosting on the cake.
Thank you for sharing today.
Brother Jeff,
Our Heavenly Father is beyond human words. He knows exactly what is needed to draw us back to Him and will move mountains reaching out to His unfaithful children. We are so very blessed!
Thank you for sharing Ron. That blessed me.
Amen 👍🏻
Nothing I have is mine it is all a gift given to me as a test from god to see what I do with them. I feel like I’m in a scramble to make up for my past and to show him how grateful I am for his grace with my actions each day. I slip sometimes…. more than I should but I catch myself more and apologize, read and pray. Thank you for love and compassion in hour blog I come to it and read it on long lonely nights when memories get bad at 2:30am lol
Brother Timothy,
It is an honor to be here for you.
You make a great point when you say that our possessions are “a gift given … as a test from God to see what [we] do with them.”
With that one line, you have defined our very existence.
Please know that in your loneliness you are not alone. That is one of the many gifts our Father has given us. His Son came to redeem us and to call us to Him. You have answered that call.
His response?
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 20b)
He promises to give us His Spirit and then he says, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16: 3)
You are not alone.